Fortnightly bin collections on the way to Wolverhampton - what do you think?
Fortnightly bin collections and charges for garden waste collections will be introduced across Wolverhampton later this year, council chiefs have revealed.
Slop bucket collections will also be scrapped as part of the overhaul Wolverhampton council hopes will help save £2.4 million a year as part of wider cost-cutting.
Council bosses have committed to an ‘agreement in principle’ to end the waste collection partnership with contractor Amey bringing the service back under sole council control.
Vote in our poll here:
When the plans were first revealed in February last year, more than 80 per cent of E&S readers said they opposed fortnightly bin collections.
The move was put on hold last summer amid a council dispute with Amey over the changes.
But at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, bosses ruled they will press on with the plans – with the new service to be brought in from September.
Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment, said: “Through these changes, the council are able to meet its agreed budget whilst investing to provide a platform for service changes as agreed by full council in February last year.
“The new service will introduce an improved waste collection service to be easily accessible and more efficient to residents by enabling them to self-serve and book specialist services provided by the council.
“We will provide a detailed implementation programme and will ensure residents are kept up to date in advance of any service changes.
"The new service will also enable the city council to increase recycling requirements to 50 per cent by 2020. The agreed changes will be completed in time for the commencement of the 2019-2020 financial year.”
Have your say in the comments section below the article
Under the plan for changes to the waste management, slop buckets which take food waste will be scrapped.
A charge of £35 a year would also be levied on residents taking up a new 42-week garden waste collection service.
Bin collections will be cut to fortnightly, although households will be able to have a free bigger brown bin if needed.
An Amey spokesman said: “Amey and Wolverhampton council have worked closely for the last 11 years, delivering an effective waste collection service for the city’s residents.
“However, with local authorities facing ongoing and unprecedented pressures, both parties have mutually agreed to end the current contract.
"Both parties are now working towards the final agreement which will result in the waste collection services being delivered by the city council from September.”
Adrian Turner, branch secretary at Unison’s Wolverhampton branch, said: “Unison welcomes this major contract being brought back in-house, and the re-establishment of democratic control by the council’s elected members over this important service.
“Unison now looks forward to working with the city council in providing a seamless transition of the service that will benefit the council, service users, and the workforce, while providing a high-standard service delivery and quality employment for local people.”
